Shahana Hanif Wins Re-Election in nyc Council Race

Shahana Hanif has secured a commanding victory in her bid for re-election to the New York City Council, winning 69.9% of first-choice votes in District 39, according to preliminary results with 99% of scanners reporting.

The race drew intense attention citywide as one of the most contentious and politically charged contests of the year. Hanif, the Council’s first Muslim woman and a progressive voice on issues of housing, policing, and international solidarity, faced challenger Maya Kornberg, a researcher at the Brennan Center for Justice. Backed by the pro-Israel Solidarity PAC, Kornberg’s campaign sharply criticized Hanif’s outspoken support for Palestinians during Israel’s war in Gaza — a stance that drew accusations of antisemitism, which Hanif strongly denied.

Speaking to a cheering crowd at her election night party in Park Slope, Hanif declared victory as a triumph of grassroots organizing over corporate influence.

“We won on people power — a grassroots movement that stood up against corporate PACs, Uber, and billionaire James Dolan. We said no to Trump donors and proved that Brooklyn cannot be bought.”

The 2025 primary season has seen a record level of outside spending, with independent expenditure groups — including those funded by Uber, DoorDash, and Airbnb — pouring nearly $14 million into City Council races across the city, double the amount from the previous cycle.

Across the five boroughs, only 20 of the 28 contested Council races were decided in the first round of ranked-choice voting. The Board of Elections is expected to release full results, including redistribution rounds, by July 1.

In District 38, which includes Sunset Park and Red Hook, incumbent Councilmember Alexa Avilés also retained her seat, winning 71.5% of first-choice votes against challenger Ling Ye.